Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Fang Tong rested his hand on the narrow blade at his waist, gazing at the woman on the swing. Upon hearing her mention "Second Young Master Yan," he spoke after a long silence: "...Why must you imprison him? If he does not care for Your Highness, what use is there in imprisonment?"

He was speaking up for Yan Shang.

Mu Wanyao turned her face to look at him. Her expression was somewhat cold, causing Fang Tong to shift his gaze away, feeling ill at ease. Mu Wanyao then stroked her cheek and smiled, a realization dawning upon her: "As my captain of the guard, you are actually still very concerned for Yan Shang? Are you afraid he will be hurt, afraid he will be uncomfortable? Do you not care about me?"

Fearing a misunderstanding, Fang Tong immediately replied: "Your subordinate naturally honors only Your Highness; it is just that Second Young Master Yan is, after all, the weaker party when facing Your Highness..."

Mu Wanyao was icy: "What? Do you think he is merely a plaything, and since I don't care that much about him, why bother bullying him? Who told you I don't care about him? Who told you!"

She stood up abruptly and took two steps forward. The swing frame behind her swayed, trembling and creaking from her movement. Mu Wanyao’s imposing manner forced Fang Tong to take a step back, let alone the other guards in the courtyard.

The master of the house, who had rented out his property, and his wife were peering from the courtyard gate, wanting to know the identity of the noble guest staying with them. But Mu Wanyao’s aura was so intense that they turned and fled, not daring to ask anything more.

Mu Wanyao fixed a cold stare on Fang Tong: "Must I be in agony for it to be called caring for him? Must I weep every night for it to be called caring for him? Who told you that because I appear unconcerned, it means I truly treat him like a trinket, that once the past is over, it is simply gone?"

Fang Tong, even as a captain of the guard, was being reprimanded by the princess in public. With his head bowed and his face flushed red, he quickly knelt to admit his fault. Only his prompt admission made Mu Wanyao’s expression soften slightly.

Mu Wanyao said faintly: "You all always think that I should especially hate him... yet the parts of him that make me feel such hatred are precisely the parts I most admire. When people lack something, they always want to obtain it. Once they obtain something, they will covet even more."

Fang Tong said painfully: "It was your subordinate who was narrow-minded. Your Highness deserves the best. But when Your Highness said just now that you wanted Second Young Master Yan’s life, what did you mean?"

Mu Wanyao was lost in thought for a moment, thinking of the Yan Shang she had seen over these past few days—the Yan Shang who had looked at her sorrowfully in the prison, and the Yan Shang who had chatted with her deep into the night a few days ago.

She said slowly: "I am very lost, so I have always been watching others, always learning from others. But what does that matter? People are meant to walk forward step by step like this. I have reached my current status; as a princess, there is no possibility of going any further.

"Wei Shu is an envoy, Yang Si went to war, and Yan Shang is involved in politics. Even among the women, Zhao Wuniang escaped her marriage, and Liu Ruozhu married a husband who, like her, loves preserving ancient authentic manuscripts... They all have their own lives. Young men like Wei Shu, Yang Si, and Yan Shang are brilliant enough to leave a heavy, colorful stroke in the annals of history. Yet, what am I?"

She muttered to herself, as if trying to persuade herself.

She thought that if she let Yan Shang go, with his gentle and mild temperament, he would surely drag his feet in dealing with his fiancée’s affairs and would not be able to end them anytime soon. And she could no longer endure it... she could no longer endure being separated from Yan Shang again!

These fifteen days of escaping allowed her and Yan Shang to temporarily set aside old grudges and get along harmoniously. It was during these fifteen days that they cooperated under the guise of being a married couple.

Standing beside him, she saw more sides of him. Every time she heard people refer to them as a couple, Mu Wanyao kept thinking: if only Yan Shang were truly her husband. Once this obsession took root, it was hard not to let her imagination wander further—

He was a true gentleman as clear and bright as the moon; was she willing to be a base, depraved villain?

He was admired by all and loved and respected by the common people; was her childhood dream to oppress the people and sow chaos in the imperial court?

Her whole life was a pursuit to jump out of the cage of being controlled by others, a lifelong search for a sense of security.

Her existence was attacked and questioned by others, yet she struggled, enjoyed, and became infatuated. She swore not to succumb to depravity, and heaven itself would applaud her. To have met someone as dazzling as starlight and moonlight just as she was losing her sense of self and wallowing in petty, sordid affairs—was this not heaven’s reward to her?

Mu Wanyao said earnestly: "A person like him, once he marries me, will be devoted to me. He will love me, care for me, and treat me better than anyone else."

Fang Tong: "Second Young Master will be angry, won't he..."

Mu Wanyao was indifferent: "He won't be angry for long."

Fang Tong: "But what if he... like he did three years ago..."

Mu Wanyao said: "The path I have chosen, I will walk myself. Whether it is good or bad, I will bear the consequences. I used to fear such choices, but now..."

In the past, she did not have the right to choose her own man; she was always forced to choose by others. Now, she wanted to make the choice herself.

She looked back at Fang Tong. Her eyes shone with the glow of a tranquil, flowing galaxy, beautiful and moving. Under the dappled shade of the trees, she stood in the May garden; the wind swept through her pleated skirt, and she looked down slightly at Fang Tong. They stood facing each other.

Looking into the distance, Fang Tong saw a magnificent and firm princess. Mu Wanyao saw countless rivers of the past, where the silhouettes of old people were severed one by one in the light and shadow, leaving only one shadow standing gently. She whispered:

"Yan Shang is the only person who makes me feel that marriage is not so hopeless. I want to try. I have the courage to try. What do you think?"

Fang Tong looked at her, stunned. After a while, he tightened his jaw and said hoarsely: "Your subordinate will naturally follow Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao smiled sweetly. She did not care much for the opinions of others, nor did she care how she and Yan Shang would be spoken of by others. But Fang Tong had experienced so much with her; he understood her past and supported her future—that was what mattered.

Mu Wanyao sat back on the swing, swaying it slowly a couple of times before saying: "Tell me about the current situation in Rang County. How is Pei Qing, and how is Chang'an? Yan Shang has gone to find the county magistrate... it is time to close the net."

——

Yan Shang had a detailed discussion with the local county magistrate regarding the princess.

With Fang Tong’s return, Rang County was no longer the exclusive domain of the Jiang clan. The Jiang clan was furious, but as Mu Wanyao turned to settle accounts, she had collected countless pieces of evidence during these days of flight that showed the Nanyang Jiang clan wanted to assassinate the princess. If the princess had died, it would be one thing, but since she was still alive, this evidence would become swords and blades to attack the Prince of Qin once it returned to Chang'an.

Conspiring to murder a royal princess—even for the Nanyang Jiang clan, even for the Prince of Qin, as long as the Emperor was still alive, he would not sit idly by while one of his children murdered another.

This was destined to be the biggest case in Chang'an this year.

The Nanyang Jiang clan would inevitably have to go to Chang'an to beg for mercy.

Yan Shang’s arrival made everyone in the magistrate's mansion feel insecure. The magistrate had originally been standoffish, thinking Yan Shang was merely negotiating on behalf of the princess. But when Yan Shang presented these situations one by one, the magistrate could no longer hold his teacup steady and began to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead over and over again.

The magistrate muttered to himself: "How did it come to this? How could it reach this point... My clan has operated in Nanyang for a hundred years; even the Emperor cannot pull us out by the roots! If my clan is gone, all of Nanyang will fall into chaos. Furthermore, is Prince Qin not more important than Princess Danyang? And besides... where did this evidence for murdering the princess come from?"

Yan Shang said warmly: "What does the magistrate think Young Master Pei stayed in Rang County for? Naturally, it was to collect evidence. The Jiang clan has operated in Nanyang for a hundred years, so there must be a great deal of things left behind. Moreover, I served as the county magistrate in Rang County for three years, and I always kept some things... These have already been handed over to Young Master Pei by my trusted confidants. The Jiang clan will inevitably be convicted... The dignity of the royal family cannot be offended. Does the magistrate still not understand?"

The cold sweat on the magistrate’s forehead increased.

After a long while, he suddenly knelt: "Young Master Yan, save me! Since you have come here, you must have a way to save me; please speak plainly—"

At this time, in the courtyard where Mu Wanyao was staying, Fang Tong was also explaining these situations one by one. Mu Wanyao nodded and said thoughtfully: "For a powerful clan to exist for a hundred years, pulling them out by the roots will inevitably cause severe damage to the bones and tendons, and Nanyang will be ruined. Nanyang is prosperous and is an extremely important state for tax revenue in the Central Plains; this place cannot be abandoned.

"Those who govern should balance all parties. The Nanyang Jiang clan cannot fall. But not falling does not mean they cannot be replaced."

Powerful families take turns in power; though they do not fall, they can be pushed. Just like the method her father used to deal with the Li clan of Jinling: the Li clan retreated to Jinling, and her uncle was demoted to Lingnan. They were hurt, but their roots remained, and the Li clan still existed. As long as the Li clan existed, it could ensure that the South would not fall into chaos.

A clear train of thought appeared before Mu Wanyao, allowing her to ponder it and push her ideas forward one by one—

"Yan Shang is going to negotiate with the magistrate. That magistrate also comes from the Jiang clan. This time, I will use the charge of murdering the princess to bring down both the governor and the regional commander, and replace them with this magistrate—who is not of the Jiang main line and has no choice but to side with us.

"Pei Qing must also stay in Rang County. Having only one magistrate on my side does not put me at ease. Rang County is the seat of the prefecture; if I want to take Yan Shang away, I must leave someone behind. Pei Qing betrayed me, and I want to strip him of his title as the princess’s consort; he is no longer suited to stay in Chang'an... It would be better to keep him in Rang County to help me stabilize Nanyang.

"Nanyang still needs to suppress bandits and cannot fall into chaos at this time. With a change of personnel in Nanyang, my third brother will be contained. I can use this to make trouble and force my third brother to take a step back. If Father wants to deal with the Jiang clan, he will not let my third brother become a nuisance... It is inconvenient for Father to act against his own son, so I might as well give him a push."

Mu Wanyao got up and went into the house to write letters. One was sent to Rang County, addressed to Pei Qing. Several were sent to Chang'an, to those court officials of humble origin who were subservient to her, instructing them to use this incident to attack the Nanyang Jiang clan and force the governor and regional commander to resign and go to Chang'an to be convicted.

She also had to write to the Prince of Qin, using their blood bond as siblings to bargain with him and get what she had always wanted.

By the way, she also had to write to Liu Wenji to cooperate with him...

"Mother!"

Just as Mu Wanyao was about to enter the house, she suddenly heard a bright, boyish voice. She looked back and saw Fang Tong looking pale and embarrassed. Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow and followed Fang Tong’s gaze, seeing a little boy, bold and robust, in the corner of the side room by a tree, whispering toward them.

The boy was immediately picked up by a guard who covered his mouth. The guard looked over uneasily, fearing that the princess would punish them. The boy, in the guard’s arms, also looked at Mu Wanyao. Seeing the Princess Danyang whom his father spoke of from time to time, the boy was stunned.

It was the little boy’s first time seeing such a beautiful and noble woman, and his face instantly turned bright red.

Fang Tong said with difficulty: "Your Highness, please forgive me. My child is ignorant and doesn't know how he ran out to disturb Your Highness..."

Mu Wanyao was in a good mood and laughed indifferently. She might still have a knot in her heart regarding children, but it was certainly not as severe as it used to be. She saw the boy’s embarrassed expression and found it quite amusing, so she told the guard to take him away without punishing them—

In Rang County, in the dead of night, Pei Qing sat before his desk and received the secret letter from the princess, delivered at top speed.

He struggled for a long time, thinking back to the terror he felt when he saw the bandits that day. His fear made him flee, and his cowardice made him let go of the princess’s hand. Although he led troops to save her afterward, the earthquake happened, and the princess was already gone.

Afterward, he cooperated with the forces Yan Shang left behind in Rang County to help stabilize the situation for the princess, all to atone for his sins. Now, the letter from the princess that could determine his life or death had arrived.

As a princess, she could easily decide the life or death of someone of his background. Even though he had tried his best, he was still afraid of the impending punishment.

Pei Qing couldn't help but wonder if, when Second Young Master Yan betrayed the princess back then, he felt as fearful and uneasy as he did today. Imperial power was so oppressive, yet they ate the monarch’s stipend—what choice did they have?

Pei Qing finally opened the princess’s letter. He read it at a glance, and after finishing, it was hard to say what he felt—

The princess told him to confess his crimes to Chang'an, and the matter of him being the consort would be dropped.

The wedding preparations in Chang'an would proceed as usual, but Pei Qing would become a laughingstock.

But being a laughingstock was fine, because the princess no longer intended to give him the official post of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The princess wanted him to stay in Nanyang; after the voices in the Nanyang Jiang clan were replaced, he had to stabilize Nanyang and prevent it from helping the Prince of Qin too much in the future.

The new post the princess had planned for him was the Prefectural Administrator of Nanyang. This was a sixth-rank official post, much better than the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel she had originally promised.

However, it was still a local official post.

After all, he could not return to Chang'an.

From Chang'an to Nanyang, this was a promotion in name but a demotion in reality. Without the princess’s support, if the humble-born officials abandoned Pei Qing, his career as the Prefectural Administrator of Nanyang might be over... He comforted himself by thinking that at least he was better off than Second Young Master Yan was back then.

Pei Qing felt bitter, but he still lifted his heavy arm to write a reply to the princess, accepting her demands—

In the following half-month, Nanyang changed drastically.

Once news of the princess’s safety arrived, the governor and the regional commander were brought to justice. The two were stripped of their ranks and uniforms and sent to Chang'an to be tried. With Nanyang losing its two top military and political leaders, the water began to turn murky. The Jiang-born magistrate whom Mu Wanyao supported was entrusted with the task at a critical moment and sent to Rang County to act as the interim governor to stabilize Nanyang.

In Chang'an, using the evidence of the princess being hunted, the officials of humble origin accused the Prince of Qin. Since it was the princess being hunted, it must have been the negligence of the regional commander in deploying troops. The military power of the Jiang clan in Nanyang was too strong, so the humble-born officials supported by the princess suggested weakening Nanyang’s military force; the Jiang clan should avoid suspicion, and members of the clan should no longer serve as officials there.

Liu Wenji intervened at this time. He also coveted the military power held by the regional commander of Shannan Circuit and wanted to merge the military strength into the Northern Yamen. The principle of officials avoiding their home regions was actively supported by Liu Wenji.

And Lord Zhao, who had always followed Liu Wenji’s lead in court, was now the Censor-in-Chief and had a real position after moving to the Censorate. This Lord Zhao was full of energy. It is unknown what Liu Wenji discussed with him in private, but the very next day, he began leading the officials of the Censorate to impeach all the Jiang clan members serving as officials in Nanyang.

The principle of official avoidance became the most popular government matter in court.

At the same time, compensation was needed for the princess’s losses. The humble-born officials attacked the Ministry of War, which was controlled by the Prince of Qin, demanding that he hand over the military power of Chang'an, on the grounds that the princess was hunted by government soldiers. These were two different matters with no logical connection, but when those in power wanted to cause trouble, any excuse could be used.

When the Prince of Qin was overwhelmed, crying to the Emperor to no avail, he finally had to humiliate himself to beg his sister, Princess Danyang. The Prince of Qin pleaded with earnest words, distancing himself from the Jiang clan and claiming that those who hunted the princess were just bottom-feeders. He said Mu Wanyao could punish whoever she wanted, and he would never plead for them. However, they were biological siblings; how could a sister force her brother like this?

Princess Danyang was moved by the numerous sincere and heartfelt letters from the Prince of Qin, stained and crumpled by his tears. She sighed and spoke with him about their sibling affection.

In the end, Princess Danyang took a step back. She no longer wanted military power; she wanted the power to dismiss officials in the Ministry of Personnel. In short, Mu Wanyao wanted to meddle in the Ministry of Personnel; it could no longer be the exclusive domain of the Prince of Qin. Because Mu Wanyao was worried about her own safety on her trip to Jinling, she could not be at ease if she encountered officials from the Nanyang Jiang clan—after the policy of official avoidance was implemented—and be retaliated against.

Mu Wanyao wanted the power to appoint and dismiss officials in the Ministry of Personnel to ensure her safety on her trip south.

This request was more acceptable to the Prince of Qin compared to splitting the military power.

The Prince of Qin gritted his teeth, thinking that even if he lost the Ministry of Personnel, his uncle was still the Minister of Justice, and besides the half of the military power Liu Wenji had taken away, he could still control the Ministry of War—this was not bad at all... The Prince of Qin agreed to Mu Wanyao’s request—

In Nanyang, as June arrived, the weather became increasingly sultry, and the heat of June made people feel uneasy.

However, the debate between Chang'an and Nanyang began to subside after Mu Wanyao and the Prince of Qin reconciled.

Mu Wanyao held a faint smile on her lips, watching the list of people she had submitted, and began to intervene in the Ministry of Personnel; her heart was extremely satisfied. Thinking that by next year, the officials of the Ministry of Personnel would be able to use the imperial examinations to select her own people to enter the court, this was the true golden opportunity for the rise of the humble-born.

Her ambition was fulfilled. She had set up the board like a game of chess, step by step, calculating every move... From the step of suppressing the bandits, she had finally forced the Prince of Qin to have only the Ministry of War left at his disposal.

What did Mu Wanyao want the Ministry of War for? As a princess, she did not practice martial arts and did not understand military affairs. Having military power in her hands was useless; it would just be doing a favor for someone else. But having the Ministry of Personnel was different. Mu Wanyao had wanted the Prince of Qin’s Ministry of Personnel for a long time... and now she had finally obtained it.

Mu Wanyao was reading a letter, admiring the fruits of her victory, when there was a knock at the door. Yan Shang, with his eyes covered by gauze, entered from outside.

Seeing him, Mu Wanyao felt very good, and she smiled sweetly: "Thank you for helping me. The matter in Chang'an is settled, and the officials in Nanyang also need to be replaced. I will also keep in mind that you saved me, and Chang'an will remember it too. If you get promoted in the future, there will be benefits."

Yan Shang smiled; he didn't care about that.

But his tone was slightly strange: "Your Highness, I just learned some news."

Mu Wanyao stood up to support his arm and let him sit down. She looked down at his handsome, thin face, feeling love in her heart, but she only teased: "Between us, why mention 'Your servant' or 'Your Highness'? Just talk to me as you did before."

Yan Shang paused and replied as she wished: "I just learned some news: all the bandits who kidnapped Your Highness are dead."

Mu Wanyao was quiet.

Then she smiled: "That’s great. Aren't you happy about it?"

Yan Shang looked up, and even though he couldn't see her, he looked in her direction. He said softly: "Dying so cleanly is unusual... When I recall what happened, I feel there are many doubts. Pei Qing and the princess leaving the city must have been stimulated by me and left temporarily. I clearly made enough arrangements to protect Your Highness in Rang County, so why was the princess caught by bandits the moment she left the city? Did Pei Qing leak the information?

"I previously thought that my protection for the princess was insufficient, but over the past two days, the news of the people I arranged that day has all come back. According to my calculations, it should not have gone wrong, yet it still did. Did Pei Qing really leak the information? But if he did, why did the princess promote him?

"Can the princess be more tolerant toward him than toward me?"

Mu Wanyao’s lips held an indescribable smile.

She leaned against him indifferently and said: "What are you trying to say?"

Yan Shang lowered his head and said softly: "I want to say, have you utilized everyone?"

Mu Wanyao’s fingers, resting on the back of his hand, flicked lightly, but she said nothing.

Yan Shang whispered: "After you argued with me and were really angry, you were going to handle your own affairs. You probably still wanted to retaliate against me and cause me a big problem, so you secretly gave the bandits an opportunity and let yourself be kidnapped in Rang County. You thought that as the magistrate of Rang County, if you were in trouble, I would be punished, and the governor and regional commander, who were from the Jiang clan, would sit back and watch you get into trouble.

"The whole incident of your kidnapping was part of your plan. You had arrangements along the way, which is why we were able to keep fleeing but were always able to avoid being caught by the government by some strange coincidence. Fang Tong did not just arrive; those guards of Fang Tong’s were following us from the beginning with the guards along the way.

"You calculated everything. Making Nanyang fall into chaos, putting yourself in danger, making the Jiang clan unable to resist wanting to kill you—because you wanted to rely on this to change the fortune of the Jiang clan in Nanyang, and to pressure the Prince of Qin. You didn't even want military power; what you plotted from the beginning was the Ministry of Personnel.

"Your Highness, am I right?"

Mu Wanyao’s smile was thick; she extended her slender, jade-like fingers and gently pressed them against his moist, red lips. She leaned down, affectionately hugging his neck, and whispered softly in his ear: "Shh, keep it down; don't let others find out.

"I knew my methods couldn't be hidden from Second Brother Yan."

She started calling him "Second Brother Yan" sweetly again.

Yan Shang was speechless for a long time, his heart complex. She didn't hide anything from him, and it was only after receiving constant letters from Chang'an and Nanyang over the past two days that he felt something was wrong everywhere...

After a while, Yan Shang gave a bitter smile: "Your Highness has become much more powerful. Your methods are so decisive; I underestimated Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao looked at his smooth chin and asked: "But you are the exception. I didn't expect you to save me with your life... I didn't consider you at the time. Second Brother Yan, I thought then that after we had a big argument, you would never care about me again. I was very angry that you didn't care about me, and I wanted to retaliate against you... If you wanted to take a wife, I wouldn't let you... But I didn't expect you to save me like that.

"On the mountain, after you shot an arrow and came to hug me, you asked if the bandit had hit me. Your tone then... I felt you were almost crying.

"I was dazed then, and realized that you have always cared about me. It was I who was ignorant and made you so sad. Second Brother Yan cared about me so much and even accompanied me on my flight south... You even disregarded your eyes, knowing full well that following me might result in total blindness... but you still chose me."

Mu Wanyao leaned down and pressed her face against his.

She said softly: "You are truly good."

She repeated the words she had said many times: "You are the best person I have ever met."

Yan Shang’s face turned red, and he felt uncomfortable being held by her.

He had been a bit resentful toward her, but her constant confessions made him too embarrassed to speak. He couldn't see her, and a strong desire to see her face grew in his heart. But he felt dejected, knowing that she had achieved her goal and was about to leave... Yan Shang was both melancholy and happy for her: "This is also very good. Now that you have become so capable, I feel much more at ease for you.

"After I return to Rang County, at least I won't be afraid every day that you will be deceived."

Mu Wanyao tilted her head: "You are going back to Rang County?"

Yan Shang: "Yes. Now that things are settled, I should go back to stabilize Rang County, shouldn't I?"

Mu Wanyao: "Oh."

Her perfunctory attitude made him feel puzzled, but he didn't think about it in detail, because she was flirtatious and soon made his face turn red, his mind a jumbled mess, and he almost forgot how she had played everyone in Nanyang—

The next day, in front of the carriage, Mu Wanyao and her party were about to leave, and Yan Shang came to see them off. As soon as the princess left, he would also return to Rang County.

He stood tall in his wide robes in front of the carriage, bowed to pay his respects, and sincerely blessed Mu Wanyao with a safe journey.

He took another step closer to the princess and shyly spoke to her, asking her to wait for him for a year, as he would come to find her.

Mu Wanyao looked deeply at this handsome young man who was as beautiful as divine jade. She took two cups of wine from Fang Tong, handed one to Yan Shang, and said: "Since you are here to see me off, please drink this cup of wine. You don't still have a low tolerance for alcohol, do you?"

Yan Shang’s face grew slightly warm, but he smiled and said: "Although my tolerance is not as good as others, I won't be knocked out by one cup, Your Highness, please rest assured."

Mu Wanyao nodded.

Fang Tong watched with sympathy as Second Young Master Yan showed no defense against the princess and drank the wine she handed him. And Second Young Master Yan, who said he wouldn't be knocked out by one cup, staggered two steps after drinking the wine and was concernedly supported by Mu Wanyao.

Afterward, Yan Shang fainted—

Three days later, Yan Shang woke up in the carriage heading to Jinling.

By now, they were hundreds of miles away from Nanyang, and there was no hope of turning back. He had lost all means of communication with his people and was trapped in the princess’s carriage.

With the rumble of carriage wheels, the young man lay in the carriage wrapped in a quilt, feeling lost and speechless for a long time.